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(Image: news-medical) |
A research team from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has reported that smokers are three times more likely to suffer from heart attacks compared to non-smokers.
The study examined 40,000 individuals aged 40 to 59 over a period of 11 years. The investigation was led by Shoichiro Tsugane, head of the Epidemiology and Prevention Division at the National Cancer Center in Japan.
The research findings indicated that male smokers face a 3.6-fold higher risk of myocardial infarction compared to non-smokers, while female smokers have a 2.9-fold increased risk.
The more one smokes, the greater the risk of heart attack. For men, smoking 1 to 14 cigarettes daily increases the risk of heart attack by 3.2 times compared to non-smokers. Those who smoke 15 to 34 cigarettes a day face a 3.6-fold increased risk, and smoking more than 34 cigarettes daily results in a 4.4-fold higher risk.
However, the risk of myocardial infarction and angina significantly decreases within two years after a patient quits smoking.
Minh Thương
